Fjordia browni - Marine Life Encyclopedia

Fjordia browni Picton, 1980

Fjordia browni

Description: The body is translucent white in colour with patches of opaque white pigment on the tips of the long, pointed oral tentacles, smooth rhinophores and tail. The cerata are filled with red or red-brown digestive gland, and have a broad ring of white pigment below the tip. There are conspicuous pointed propodial tentacles at the front corners of the foot in all Coryphellids. Typically about 20mm-30mm in length, but well-fed individuals may be larger, up to 80mm.

Habitat: A common species in spring and early summer in shallow exposed sites and deeper water which is exposed to tidal streams. The normal food is the hydroid Tubularia indivisa but other hydroids are sometimes eaten, such as Eudendrium spp. and the solitary hydroid Corymorpha nutans The spawn consists of a thread which is laid in a wavy spiral.

Distribution: Found throughout the British Isles, and as far north as Norway and Iceland. Recorded from the Atlantic coast of France, but confusion with other species makes new records valuable.

Key Identification Features:

White markings only on the tips of the tail and head processes.
Broad white rings on the cerata.

Distribution Map: NBN map : National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

WoRMS: Species record : World Register of Marine Species.

iNaturalist: Species account : iNaturalist World Species Observations database

Picton, B.E. & Morrow, C.C. (2016). Fjordia browni Picton, 1980. [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland.
https://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/species.asp?item=W14500 Accessed on 2025-01-22

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